Where to find your username if you're already logged in

If you're signed into GitHub right now, your username appears in the top right corner of any page. Click your profile picture — it's a small circle or avatar in the upper right. A dropdown menu opens, and your username is listed at the top, usually preceded by an @ symbol. You can also click "Your profile" from that same menu and look at the URL in your browser's address bar; it will read github.com/yourusername.

This is the fastest way if you just need to confirm what you're using. Write down or copy the exact spelling, including any numbers or hyphens, since GitHub usernames are case-insensitive but the spelling matters when you share it with others.

Finding someone else's username from their profile

If you need to find another person's GitHub username, go to their profile page and look at the URL. The username is the part after github.com/. For example, if the URL reads github.com/sarah-chen, then sarah-chen is the username. You can also see it displayed prominently near their profile picture and name on the page itself.

The username is different from the person's display name. Their display name might be "Sarah Chen" but their username could be "sarah-chen" or "schen42". Always use the username (the one in the URL) when you need to reference them in code, pull requests, or mentions.

Recovering a username you've forgotten

If you can't remember your username and you're not logged in, go to github.com/login and enter the email address you used to create your account. GitHub will not tell you your username directly at the login page, but once you enter your email and password, you'll be logged in and can see your username in the top right corner as described above.

If you've forgotten both your username and password, click "Forgot password?" on the login page. GitHub will send a password reset link to your email. After you reset your password and log in, your username will be visible in the top right corner. If you no longer have access to the email address on file, you'll need to contact GitHub Support through their help portal at support.github.com.

Key Takeaways

  • Your GitHub username appears in the top right corner when you're logged in, or in your profile URL at github.com/yourusername.
  • A username is different from a display name — the username is what appears in the URL and is used for mentions and code references.
  • To find someone else's username, look at their profile URL or the name displayed next to their avatar on their profile page.
  • If you've forgotten your username, log in with your email and password, and your username will be visible in the top right corner.

Understanding the difference between username and display name

GitHub lets you set two different names: a username and a display name. Your username is permanent, cannot be changed, and is what appears in URLs and when people mention you in code. Your display name is what shows next to your avatar on your profile and in comments — you can change this anytime.

This matters because someone might have a display name like "Dr. Sarah Chen" but a username like "schen-1987". When you need to tag them in a pull request or reference them in code, you must use the username, not the display name. If you're unsure which is which, check the profile URL — that's always the username.

Why you might need your username

You'll need your GitHub username when you clone a repository using SSH, when you want someone to mention you in an issue or pull request, when you're setting up Git on your computer, or when you're sharing your profile with someone. It's also the name that appears on your contributions graph and in your public activity.

Some tools and services ask for your GitHub username to connect to your account. Always provide the exact spelling, including any numbers or hyphens, so the connection works correctly. Knowing where to find it quickly saves time when you're working across multiple projects or collaborating with other developers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my GitHub username?

Yes, you can change your username in your account settings under "Account" in the left sidebar. However, GitHub will redirect your old username to your new one for a short time, so old links still work. After that period, the old username becomes available for someone else to use.

What if my username is taken by someone else?

If the username you want is already in use, you'll need to choose a different one. GitHub usernames must be unique. You can add numbers, hyphens, or underscores to create a variation — for example, if "sarah-chen" is taken, you might try "sarah-chen-1" or "sarahchen42".

Is my username the same as my email address?

No. Your email address and username are separate. You use your email to log in, but your username is a different identifier used for your public profile and in code. You can change your email address in settings, but your username is permanent unless you change it intentionally.

Do I need to remember my username for anything?

You don't need it to log in — you can use your email instead. But you'll want to know it if you're sharing your profile, cloning repositories via SSH, or setting up Git on your computer. It's worth writing it down or bookmarking your profile page for reference.